Key holder



p 29, 1970 J. H. CLEMENT 3,530,698

' KEY HOLDER Filed Nov. 21, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i mum B I 33 a5 ghn mull:

6, A h. I- \Q 67 INVE/VT'OE (In/N H. CLEMENT Sept. 29., 1970 J. a. CLEMENT KEY HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 21, 1968 17v V5 TO? (kl/NH C4 EME/VT United States Patent 3,530,698 KEY HOLDER John H. Clement, 340 Wanaao Road, Kailua, Hawaii 96734 Filed Nov. 21, 1968, Ser. No. 777,610 Int. Cl. A45c 11/32 US. Cl. 70-457 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A key holder constructed of flexible material defining a case of generally flat configuration containing a plurality of keys therewithin, the keys being mounted on a bead or ball type chain within the case and easily individually selected singularly or in multiples for ejection from the key case for use.

There are, of course, many types of key holders which are and have been available for the storage of keys and which may be carried in the pocket or purse of the person owning the keys. In many of these devices, the keys are enclosed within a case and must be ejected for use. Generally, such keys are pivotally mounted through a hole in the'head of the key about which the keys may pivot. Since only one key is used at a particular time, the difficulty with these prior art key holders is that all of the keys must be ejected from the case and the user must thereafter select the proper key from the multiple exposed keys.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a key holder for enclosing a plurality of keys, one or more of which may be selectively ejected from the key holder.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a key holder of the above-described type in which the selectivity in ejection of the keys is provided through the configuration of the inner chamber of the key holder case.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a key holder of the above-described type which is inexpensive to manufacture and may thus be used as a premium item.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a plurality of key holders of the above-described type which are made in different sizes, colors, and dissimilar outer texture so that related groups of keys may be stored in separate key holders on a single key chain, each group being easily identified relative to the other groups of keys on such key chain.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a key holder of the above-described type in which a ball or bead type chain functions as the pivotal axis on which the multiple keys are mounted and which prevents loosening or loss of the keys from the key holder.

Still one more object of the present invention is to provide a key holder of the above-described type in which a single and most often used key may be ejected from the case of the key holder while the remainder of the keys remain within the case and also to eject selective pairs of keys out of a group of three or more keys within the case for ejection from the case while the remainder of the keys remain within the case.

Yet one further object of the present invention is to provide a compact key holder that may be easily carried and which is externally smooth so as to reduce wear of a pocket or purse lining in which the key holder is carried.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

'ice

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of a key holder containing features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom elevation view of the key holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the plane III-- III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view of the key holder case shown in FIG. 1 in the unfolded or undeveloped position;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the key holder of FIG. 1 taken along the plane VV which illustrates one order of keys being ejected from one side edge of the case;

FIG. 6- is a sectional view as in FIG. 5 showing the key holder vertically inverted and illustrating a different order of keys being ejected from the other side edge of the case;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view as in FIG. 5 showing three keys within the case being simultaneously ejected;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the plane VIII-- VIII of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the plane IX- IX of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the plane XX of FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 shows the key holder being deformed by the fingers of the user so as to spread the sidewalls of the case allowing selective keys to be ejected;

FIG. 12 is a detailed sectional view of the short nonadjustable end portion of the bead like chain retained within one sidewall of the case;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the plane XIII- XIII of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a top view of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a detailed sectional view of the longer adjustable end portion of the bead like chain retained within the other sidewall of the case;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along the plane XVI XVI of FIG. 14; and

FIG. 17 is a top view of FIG. 15.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an exemplary key holder constructed in accordance with the present invention and indicated generally with the reference numeral 20. Key holder 20 generally comprises carrying or holding means 25, a case 30, a ball type chain 60 on which the keys indicated at A, B and C are pivotally mounted, means for ejecting keys from case 30, means for retaining keys in case 30 and means for selectively allowing the ejection of keys from case 30.

Carrying or holding means comprising ball chain 25 may be provided for easily grasping the key holder 20 or for holding an identification tag or additional keys, such as keys D and E, shown in FIG. 2, which are constantly exposed and while unsegregated with respect to each other are separate from keys A, B and C normally carried within case 30. A second key holder containing a different group of keys can be mounted on ball chain 25 and .may be of diiterent shape, texture and/or color so as to be easily differentiated from key holder 20. For example, key holder 20 could contain home and auto keys while the second key holder contains business keys.

Case 30 generally comprises a pair of elongated flexible resilient case halves 31, 32 interconnected at one end 33 by reduced thickness wall portion 34 allowing the case halves to be pivoted from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the spaced opposed relation as shown in FIG. 3. The small end 33 of the case may be provided with registered openings 35, 36 in case halves 31, 32, respectively, for receiving the ball chain holding means 25.

Case halves 31, 32 define a key receiving chamber indicated generally at 37. Case 30 also includes means for ejecting less than all of the keys within the chamber 37 comprising a deformable chamber generally indicated at 38 defined by reduced thickness portions 41, 42 of case halves 31, 32, respectively.

As seen in FIG. 4, reduced thickness portions 41, 42 extend longitudinally less than one-fourth the overall length of the case halves 31, 32. The center portion of the inner surfaces of case halves 31, 32 are defined by generally flat wall portions 43, 44 of case halves 31, 32 each of which are laterally offset in opposite directions from the longitudinal center line of the case halves.

The case 20 is provided with means for selectively allowing the ejection of keys out of chamber 37 which in the exemplary embodiment comprises lips 45 and 46. Such lips are formed at laterally opposite side edges of generally fiat wall portions 43, 44 on case halves 31, 32, respectively. Each of the lips 45, 46 extend toward the other case half, as seen best in FIGS. through 7, so as to partially enclose the key receiving chamber 37 defining key ejection passages 47, 48. Laterally opposed to lips 45, 46 are inclined wall portions 49, 50, respectively.

The key case also includes means for retaining the key body portions within the chamber 37 during normal use. Such means in the exemplary embodiment includes the wall portions 51, 52 comprising an area of the flat wall portions 43, 44, respectively, adjacent the openings 35, 36. As seen best in FIG. 3, the wall portions 51, 52 normally bear on the outer surface of key body portions A and C so as to urge or squeeze the key body portions, particularly the tips thereof, toward one another and between the flexible case halves 31, 32 so as to retain the keys A, B and C against pivotal movement. The large end 55 of the key case halves 31, 32 are provided with openings indicated generally at 56, 57. The openings 56, 57 are in registry when the case halves 31, 32 are in spaced apart opposed relation and each of the openings is cir cular at the inner surface and is elongated in the longitudinal direction toward the small end 33 of the key case, as best seen in FIG. 3.

The ball chain 60 is secured at opposite ends in the outer surface portion of the key case halves 31, 32 so as to maintain the large end of the key case halves 31, 32 in spaced fixed relation. The ball chain 60 comprises a plurality of balls 61 interconnected by links 62. The means for securing the ends of the ball chain 60 include a plurality of sockets 63 in case half 32 so spaced and constructed as to provide one socket 63 for each ball 61. In the exemplary embodiment, there are two sockets 63 in case half 32 adjacent the opening 57 and two of the ball chain balls 61 are retained or anchored in a secure manner in the sockets 63. The ball chain 60 then passes through the openings 56, 57 and the other end of the ball chain is secured in a plurality of sockets 64 in the other case half 31 so spaced and constructed as to provide more than one socket 64 for each ball 61. The length of chain retained may therefore be adjusted as more fully explained hereinafter. It will be immediately appreciated that the number of sockets in the case half 32 is less than the number of sockets in the case half 31 so that the user of the key holder can easily tactilely recognize which side of the key case is toward and away from him. In this manner, the user can be sight, or by digital examination alone, hold the key holder in a vertical plane and immediately recognize which of the key passages 47, 48 are disposed downwardly by relation to which side of the key case is directed toward him.

The distance between the case halves 31, 32 may be adjusted by repositioning the ball chain balls 61 in the sockets 64. In this manner, the length of the ball chain which functions as the pivotal mounting for the keys which are mounted thereon through the conventional openings in the key heads may be adjusted. The adjustment is accomplished by simply removing the end of the ball chain 60 out of the sockets 64 in case half 31 and moving each of the balls 61 into the next adjacent socket closer toward the opening 56. Since an empty socket 64 is interposed between each socket retaining a ball 61, the length of chain may be closely adjusted. To facilitate the removal of the end of the ball chain 60 from the case half 31 the outer surface portion of case half 31 includes a depressed portion 65 which allows the tips of the users fingers or fingernails to grasp the balls 61 in the sockets 64 surrounded by the depressed portion 65 allowing the end of the ball chain 60 to be easily removed.

Referring to FIGS. 12 through 14 there is shown in detail the sockets 63 in case half 32 for retaining the balls 61 of the short end of ball chain 60. Each of the sockets 63 comprise the generally cylindrical cavity 66, each of which are longitudinally spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distance between balls 61 when the chain is fully extended, and each of which have a depth less than the diameter of the balls 61. The wall portion 67 between each of the socket cavities 66 are notched as at 68 so as to receive the link 62 interconnecting the adjacent balls 61. Retaining lips 69 project from opposed sidewalls at the upper ends of each of the cavities 66 and are resiliently flexible so that the balls 61 may be pressed through the reduced opening formed by the inner edges of the retainer lips 69 into the cavity 66 where it is retained during normal usage. Since each of the sockets 63 contain a ball, it will be appreciated that this end of the chain is non-adjustable because the balls may not be transferred to the adjacent sockets.

In FIGS. 15 through 17, the sockets 64 in case half 32 are seen to comprise a generally elongated channel separated into a plurality of ball receiving cavities formed by opposing semi-circular walls 76 defining a plurality of longitudinally adjacent cavities 75 separated by partition walls 77 and retainer lips 78 extending from opposed sidewalls at the upper end of each of the cavities 75.

The key holder 20 also includes means 80 for simultaneously ejecting all of the keys from the case substantially simultaneously. Such means in the exemplary embodiment comprises the thin wall sections 81, 82 in the case halves 31, 32 at the large end 55 of the case 30. The thin wall sections 81, 82 are immediately adjacent the key heads at a spaced apart location from the pivotal axis of the keys.

In operation a plurality of keys may be mounted within the case 30 of key holder 20. In the embodiment illustrated, there are shown three keys A, B and C pivotally mounted in case 20 and normally withdrawn in the key receiving chamber 37 of the case. As previously explained, the wall portions 51, 52 of case halves 31, 32 will normally bear upon the outer surfaces of the tips of the key body portions of keys A and C. This pressure on keys A and C is transmitted to key B and thus all three keys are retained within the case chamber 37. Release or ejection of the keys is effected through the application of digital pressure upon opposed ends of key holder 20, as shown in FIG. 11. The application of the pressure will be seen to deform chamber 38 so that the wall portions 51, 52 of the walls 31, 32 are separated and do not bear upon the keys A and C and the keys are free to pivot about the axle portion of ball chain 60.

Referring to FIG. 5, the key holder 20 is illustrated in a vertical position after the application of digital pressure as to deform the means normally retaining the key body portions within the chamber 37. Under this condition, the body of key B will immediately rotate downward from the chamber and be ejected ready for use. Thereafter, additional digital pressure causing further deformation and release of pressure on keys A and C will allow key C to be ejected from chamber 37. Key C will be ejected rather than ke A since key A is retained by lip 46 whereas key C can move down the inclined surface 49. Through still further application of digital pressure and subsequent deformation of key case 30 the lip 46 will be moved away from the other case half 31 so as to open the passage 48 sufficiently to allow key A to be the last key ejected from the key holder. FIG. 11 shows the independent action of keys A, B and C when key case 30 is deformed as in the foregoing manner.

'It will be readily appreciated that where three or more keys are to be carried in the key holder 20, the center key or keys will always be the first to be ejected and should thus be the key most often used. Four or more keys can be carried in key holder 20 and in such event the center group of keys will always be the first to be ejected.

In FIG. 6, the key holder is shown in position for ejection of the keys in a different order. Specifically, passage 47 at the other side of the case 30 faces downwardly, the passage being identified by recognizing which side of the key case faces the user. Application of slight digital pressure will cause key B to eject; further application of pressure will cause key A to eject. Key C will be held and will be the last to eject since its passage out of the chamber is normally prevented by lip 45 which is not moved until severe deformation takes place.

To simultaneously eject all of the keys, the key case is grasped between the fingers as shown in FIG. 2. Application of digital pressure through the finger will cause the thin wall sections 81, 82 at the large end 55 of the case to deform whereupon the finger will be in contact with the key heads through the deformed flexible case half sections 81, 82. Increasing pressure of the upper finger will cause the key heads to pivot about their axis whereupon all of the keys are substantially simultaneously ejected from the key case.

It should be understood that the key case as described above in reference to three or more keys can also be used for selective ejections of two keys. This will be appreciated by considering the ejection order in the absence of key B, i.e., the center key illustrated in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6. When two keys A and C are within chamber 37 of case 30, operation is as follows. Again, first assuming that passage 48 is disposed downwardly, the application of digital pressure on the ends of case 30 will cause key C to eject first since key A will be prevented by lip 46. Further application of digital pressure will then produce ejection of key A. By rotating the key holder about its longitudinal axis to the position shown in FIG. 6, it will be readily seen that the order of ejection of the keys is completely reversed, i.e., key A will be the first to e ect and key C will be the last.

It is thus seen that the present invention attains the foregoing objects in providing a key holder including a key case having halves fabricated from flexible resilient material and a ball chain on which the keys are pivotally mounted and means for selectively ejecting various combinations of keys out of the chamber defined by the key case halves to facilitate convenient use of the key holder.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be pract1ced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. A key holder for containing a plurality of keys which may be selected for use through manipulation by the operator, comprising:

a key case including a pair of elongated reslllent flexible case halves interconnected at one end in spaced opposed relation so as to define a key receiving chamber, the other end of said case halves having registered openings;

21 ball chain secured at one end in the outer surface portion of one of said case halves, passing through said openings and secured at the other end in the outer surface portion of the other of said case halves for pivotally mounting one or more keys about the key heads within said chamber;

said case including deformable means for retaining the key body portions within said chamber during normal use and means for selectively ejecting less than all of the key body portions;

said deformable retaining and ejecting means being deformed by pressure applied at opposite ends of said case so as to release the key body portions within said chamber whereby at least one key is ejected from said chamber when said case is held in a vertical plane without the application of any force to the key itself.

2. The key holder of claim 1 wherein said case additionally includes digitally deformable means for ejecting all of the keys from said case substantially simultaneously.

)3. The key holder of claim 2 wherein said simultaneous ejection means comprises a thin wall section in at least one case half adjacent the key heads whereby digital pressure deforming said thin wall section allows contact with the key head so that the key head may be pivoted to eject the body portions of the keys out of the chamber through the application of digital pressure.

4. The key holder of claim 1 wherein said deformable retaining means includes portions of said flexible case halves within said chamber adjacent the end of said case at which said case halves are interconnected and bearing upon the key body portions adjacent thereto so as to prevent said keys from pivotal movement during normal usage.

5. The key holder of claim 4 wherein said deformable ejecting means comprises reduced thickness portions of the case halves at the interconnected ends thereof so as to define a resilient deformable chamber rendering said retaining means inoperative when digital pressure is applied at opposite ends of said key holder.

6. The key holder of claim 5 wherein said deformable means for retaining and ejecting the key body portions within said chamber additionally includes a lip along one side edge of each of said flexible case halves extending toward the other case half having an inclined inner wall surface projecting toward said lip, each lip and adjacent inclined inner wall partially enclosing said chamber defining a passage for one key to pass therethrough, whereby a different key will be ejected by gravity from the case depending upon which passage is at the lower end of said case when digital pressure is applied.

7. The key holder of claim 1 wherein each end of said ball chain is secured in resiliently deformable sockets formed in the outer surface portion of said case halves.

8. The key holder of claim 6 wherein the number of sockets in one case half outer surface portion is greater than the number of sockets in the other half outer surface portion, said ball chain being secured in all of the sockets in the case half outer surface portion having the lesser number of sockets and in a greater number of sockets of the case half outer surface portion of the other case half having the greater number of sockets in the outer surface portion, whereby each of the case halves are tactilely identifiable.

9. A key holder in which a plurality of keys may be retained and selected for use through manipulation of the key holder, comprising:

a case including a pair of elongated flexible resilient case halves interconnected at one end through reduced thickness portions of the case halves so as to define a deformable chamber, the case halves being disposed in spaced Opposed relation so as to define a key receiving chamber, and the other end of said case halves having registered openings;

a ball chain secured at one end in one of said case halves, passing through said openings and secured at the other end in the other of said case halves so as to define a pivotal axis for one or more keys about the key heads;

deformable means for retaining the key body portions within said key receiving chamber during normal use and means for selectively allowing the ejection of keys out of said chamber; and

7 said deformable reduced thickness portions atfone end of said case being deformed by pressure applied at opposite ends of said case so as to render said means for retaining the key body portions within said chamber inoperative whereby said means for selectively allowing a key body portion to be ejected permits at least one key to be ejected from sa idcharnber her includes a lip along one side edge of each of said flexible case halves extending toward the other case half so' as to partially enclose said chamber defining a passage for one key to pass therethrough.

References Cited UNITED 3/1942 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner R. L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner 

